WDEF News 12

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It's a situation that touches a lot of families. Now teen pregnancy takes the spotlight. This week Governor Sarah Palin announced her daughter Bristol is expecting a baby.  In December Britney's sister Jamie Lynn Spears also brought it forward.

When it comes to Teen Pregnancy, it may seem like messages that seem to promote sex...

David Ritterbush,Why Know, "Every night during prime time they're receiving messages about sex. They're learning things about sex."

drown out messages like this one from First Things First.

Julie Baumgardner, with First Things First, "Have a childhood before you have a child and don't participate in activities that can put you at risk for having a child before you're really prepared for that."

But Baumgardner says that's not the case.

Baumgardner, "The good news is it's coming down and we need to be very intentional about continuing to help it come down."

Thousands in Tennessee and hundreds of thousands nation wide get pregnant as teenagers.

Troy Rogers, "People make mistakes we're human."

Troy Rogers had a son at 19 years old.

Rogers, "Let's just make the most of the opportunity take care of the kids and let's just try to have a brighter tomorrow. That's all we can do."

First Things First partners with Why Know Abstinence Education Programs to help youngsters do just that in area schools. They also strive to reach teens before they make a mistake. Both say parents play an important role in prevention.

Ritterbush, "They really do want to hear from their parents. They really do respect their parents beliefs values so for parents to actually verbalize that to their kids makes such a profound difference for that young person's life."

Both groups say they hope parents take advantage of the high profile teen moms in the news to discuss their values about sex and risky behaviors with their kids.

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